Meet our Board of Trustees

Dr. Tererai Trent, Founder/President

The birthing of TTI and its Foundation is at the core of everything Dr. Trent believes in — to make a difference in education particularly in rural communities. Acting as chief visionary of the organization that bears her name, Dr. Trent’s career has focused on ending extreme poverty by working in the US and abroad with organizations such as Heifer International. Her firsthand experiences with gender inequality in education and the perseverance to achieve her own dream for an education against all odds touched millions — including Oprah Winfrey, who chose Dr. Trent as her “all-time favorite guest” after 25 years and more than 30,000 guests. Dr. Trent is responsible for managing the operations of TTI and it’s Foundation, providing executive leadership, determining strategic direction and fundraising. As a mother, wife and a humanitarian, Tererai’s work reflects her lifestyle and the things that inspire her. Her fight for social justice through education, understanding of people and desire to give back to the world are driving forces in her work. To learn more about Tererai’s amazing life story or to make a speaking request, visit tererai.org.

Ms. Florence Erinah Ziumbe Esq., Chairwoman

Florence Ziumbe is the visionary, founder, trustee and advisor of the Professional Women Executives and Business Women’s Forum (PROWEB). An attorney in private practice for the past 32 years, Ziumbe has experience in corporate, commercial, empowerment, aviation, construction and family law and has been principal attorney on many key country projects. Ziumbe has sat on in excess of forty board positions of public and private companies since 1982 and currently sits on the boards of several Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed and non-listed companies. As a lawyer and a partner in Ziumbe & Partners Legal Practitioners, she specialises in commercial work and has transactional experience. She holds a Bachelor of Law (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, also from the University of Zimbabwe.

Mr. Mandivamba (Mandi) Rukuni, Trustee

Mandi is an experienced development analyst and strategist in several sectors including agriculture, community development, business, finance, government, and education. He is currently Director of the Barefoot Education for Afrika Trust (BEAT) whose purpose is to promote community based knowledge innovation for development. His carreer started 35 years ago as an academic for 20 years with the University of Zimbabwe during which tenure he also served as Professor and Dean of Agriculture. He subsequently worked with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for 11 years as Director for Africa Programs. He has served as a consultant and advisor to many organizations including the World Bank, EU, USAID, DFID, CIDA, FAO, AfDB, and others. He has over the last 4 years devoted a significant amount of effort advising NEPAD, Africa Union Commission and UNECA on agriculture and land issues in Africa. He has received several honours and awards and has published 15 books and more than 100 articles.

Ms. Anesu Munengwa,
Interim Country Director

Anesu Munengwa is passionate about helping people to fulfill their God-given purpose. Having been trained in accounting and audit at Deloitte, Anesu went on to gain vast experience in finance and administration in various sectors over the last 20 years. She serves on the boards of private and public institutions as well as an international NGO. It is this experience that she brings with her to TTI to coordinate programs to empower and transform rural communities.

Mr. Christopher P. Cummings, Chief Financial Officer

Chris was born In Rhode Island and raised in the northeastern part of the United States. He earned an MA degree in Higher Education from the University of Rhode Island and an MBA degree (marketing and finance) from the University of Illinois in Chicago. He has spent his career working in the real estate field in roles ranging from the management of large-scale urban commercial office buildings to the development of both commercial and residential properties to serving as a consultant for national real estate companies. Commencing in 2005, Chris orchestrated the purchase (and has served as General Manager) of a Triple A baseball team, an ice hockey team and a soccer team in California. Always an avid traveller, Chris has focused for the past several years on both the opportunities and challenges facing Sub-Saharan Africa and is currently in the process of moving to Zimbabwe where he will work on both community development and the development of job-creating businesses.

Ms. LuAnn Tarter, Trustee

LuAnn Tartar brings over 20 years of agri-business, finance and investment experience to the TTI Board of Trustees. LuAnn’s passion for humanitarian work and especially gender equality in education compliments the mission of TTI Foundation. LuAnn Tarter is the Executive Vice President of Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment, the largest manufacturer of farm/ranch and livestock equipment in North America.

Mr. Ignatius Blessed Munengwa, Trustee

Ignatius Munengwa is a Business Development Consultant by profession. After school he journeyed through various employment and entrepreneurship ventures before realizing the power of discovering and pursuing your dreams. He is the co- founder of “Dream Big Projects”, an education based organization that focuses on building on the foundation of education to offer young students exposure and information to careers or dreams. He is a also a founding trustee of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Hub in Harare, Zimbabwe, an institution that believes in creating local solutions through global interaction. He is passionate about getting people to link education to their dreams early on in life in order to make a difference to the society at large. And it is for this reason that he is excited to be involved in TTI and helping the foundation amplify the cause for education.

Ms. Amanda Cudd Stuermer, Trustee

Amanda Stuermer brings over 15 years of philanthropic experience to TTI Foundation. Amanda champions TTI’s Global Classroom Curriculum designed to provide global connections and awareness on educational advocacy and community service. Amanda is the Founder of World Muse, an organization that creates positive change for women and girls globally.

Dr. Shannon P. Márquez, Trustee

Dr. Shannon Márquez is the Academic Dean, Director of Global Health Initiatives, and the Director of the Dornsife Global Development Scholars Program at the Drexel University School of Public Health, which leverage an exciting capacity-building partnership that provides training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Márquez is internationally recognized for her expertise in global health issues, chiefly in the areas of water, sanitation, and the environmental burden of disease; in 1999, in recognition of her contributions to addressing public health issues in West Africa, she was granted honorary citizenship in The Gambia, West Africa, where she continues to lead capacity building and training projects and initiatives in collaborations with institutions throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council; the Philadelphia Global Water Initiative; Power Up Gambia; and the African Family Health Organization; as well as the Philadelphia Board of Health and the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) Board of Scientific Counselors, which provides advice and guidance on global health and environmental issues to the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the CDC.

Mr. Ernest Dzawanda , Trustee

Mr. Ernest Dzawanda is headmaster of Matau High School who has been with the organization since its inception, and has been a great support to our projects. An educationist who has devoted his time on promoting girls education, Ernest has spearheaded girls’ education by making sure no more girls drop out of school. Ernest holds a bachelor of education degree in Religious Education, and a diploma in Secondary Education. He has worked nine years as a high school teacher and four years as the school principal of Matau High School.